After MRI on abdomen, Judge says he should be OK for opener
New York Yankees center fielder Aaron Judge had an MRI exam of his abdomen and said Tuesday that he expects to be ready for Opening Day on March 28 .
Judge started feeling discomfort with his abdomen during his swing's follow-through about a week ago, and he has not taken on-field batting practice the past few days.
He lasted played Sunday, striking out in both at-bats, and said he expects to resume swinging a bat this week, the Associated Press reported.
“We ran tests. Everything comes back good,” Judge told reporters in Tampa, one day after the
MRI. “A little banged up. The most important thing is Opening Day, and I rather take some days now and be smart about it.”
Judge is “pretty sure” he will ready for the opener at Houston. He continues defensive drills and running.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that while the team still was awaiting tests on the right elbow of AL Cy Young Award winner Gerrit Cole, it would be difficult for the ace to build up enough to start the opener.
Judge, 31, missed 42 games last season with a torn ligament in his right big toe, an injury sustained when he ran into Dodger Stadium's rightfield fence June 3, He started his off-season hitting program in November.
“I think just from swinging from November all the way until now every single day kind of get some wear and tear on it,” Judge said of his abdomen issue. “And especially coming back after a toe injury when you’re trying to, you know, mechanics are a little messed up and you’re just working on something. So I think it’s just part of being a baseball player every day.”
ELSEWHERE Strawberry recovering in hospital:
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Former New York baseball star Darryl Strawberry said he’s on the road to recovery at a Missouri hospital following a heart attack Monday.
Strawberry was an eighttime All-Star with the Mets and Yankees and serves as a guest hitting instructor for the Mets. He shared a photo from the hospital Tuesday morning confirming he was OK and thanking medical personnel.
“Praising God for His amazing grace and loving mercy in saving my life this evening from a heart attack,” Strawberry said in an Instagram post. “I am so happy and honored to report that all is well. So thankful for the medical team and staff at St. Joseph West in Lake St. Louis for responding so quickly and bringing me through a stent-procedure that has brought my heart to total restoration!!!”
Strawberry, the No. 1 pick in the 1980 draft, was
National League Rookie of the Year with the Mets in 1983 and was part of their 1986 World Series-winning team. He played for the Yankees from 199599, adding two more World Series rings.
He currently resides in O’Fallon, Mo. He turned 62 on Tuesday.
The Mets are scheduled to retire Strawberry’s jersey No. 18 in a ceremony June 1.
Strawberry hit 335 career home runs with
1,000 RBI in 1,583 games with four MLB teams in a 17-year career.
Giants release infielder:
● San Francisco released infielder J.D. Davis just over a week after third baseman Matt Chapman was added via free agency.
Davis, 30, batted .248 with a career-best 18 home runs and 69 RBI in 144 games last season, while playing 116 games at third. He was the likely third baseman for San Francisco to start the season until Chapman was added.
Davis had been placed on outright waivers but was not claimed by any team, who would have owed him his full salary for the upcoming season.
Davis was awarded a $6.9 million salary for 2024 in arbitration but will get only around $1.1 million of that sum from the Giants since he was released more than 16 days before the start of the regular season. He is now free to sign a free-agent deal with any club.